ROME - In a ruling that has sent a shiver down many parents' spines, Italy's highest appeals court has decreed that fathers must carry on supporting adult children until they find a job to their liking.

Psychologists warned that the decision could discourage people from having children in a country whose birthrate is already one of the lowest in the world, while commentators said it could boost Italy's already high unemployment rate.

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Andreoli said today he was shocked by the decision.
"I feel disgust for a country that I love. It wasn't always like this," he told Reuters.
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The growing reluctance to cut the apron strings has coincided with a falling birthrate, now put at less than 1.2 children per woman -- the lowest level in Italian history.
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I was waiting for this story to appear, I hearrd about it on talk-radio today. Having to pay child support for 30-something year old's sure doesn't encourage having children. Hey, any Italian's wish to adopt me so I can get some support, I'm only a 32 year old child...this concept is very scary, very sad.